Induction of an immune response that will destroy invisible micrometastases. [ Time Frame: 11-12 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Current Other Outcome Measures ICMJE

Not Provided

Original Other Outcome Measures ICMJE

Not Provided

Descriptive Information

Brief Title ICMJE

Evaluate The Toxicity And Feasibility Of Intra-Tumoral Injection

Official Title ICMJE

Phase I Study To Evaluate The Toxicity And Feasibility Of Intra-Tumoral Injection Of Alpha-Gal Glycosphingolipids In Patients With Advanced Or Refractory Solid Tumors

Brief Summary

This is a Phase I pilot study to evaluate the toxicity and feasibility of intratumoral injection (Glycosphingolipids) GSL alpha-GAL (beta-galactosidase) in patients with advanced, refractory solid tumors who have failed standard therapies or are not eligible for standard treatment.

Detailed Description

Intratumoral injection of alpha gal glycolipid in experimental knockout mouse model systems incorporates into tumor cell membranes and presents these xeno-transplantation epitopes to antigen presenting cells with that particular tumor's tumor associated antigens (TAA). Thus this maneuver converts any individual tumor into an in situ tumor vaccine without the need to isolate, purify or supply TAA exogenously. The effects in these model systems demonstrate both the upregulation of cytotoxic T cells which react against the particular tumor's TAA, as well as resolution of injected primary tumor and eradication and prevention of metastatic disease at distant sites. This current study was undertaken to investigate the safety and feasibility of such an approach in humans. The major toxicity concerns are acute allergic or complement activation reactions or development of autoimmunity. The primary treatment is a single intratumoral injection of alpha gal glycolipid. The study design is a standard dose escalation design and the primary endpoint is Dose limiting toxicity at one month after injection (grade 3 or 4. Subjects are followed until death utilizing standard clinical imaging and evaluation to judge overall tumor response.

Study Type ICMJE

Interventional

Study Phase

Phase 1

Study Design ICMJE

Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy StudyIntervention Model: Single Group AssignmentMasking: Open Label

* Includes publications given by the data provider as well as publications
identified by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number) in Medline.

Recruitment Information

Recruitment Status ICMJE

Completed

Enrollment ICMJE

11

Completion Date

July 2011

Primary Completion Date

July 2011 (final data collection date for primary outcome measure)

Eligibility Criteria ICMJE

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients with solid tumors who have failed standard therapies, or are not candidates for standard therapies.

Patients must have at least one measurable lesion that is accessible and suitable for injection of the GSL alpha-GAL.

Patients should not be undergoing any active treatment with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or steroids (either because the patient or the treating physician have decided not to employ these therapies at this time, or because they had already been tried and failed). If they have been treated with these modalities, the treatments should have been completed at least two weeks prior to date of injection of GSL alpha-GAL.

Patients should be judged by the investigator to be able to undergo safely the procedure needed to inject the tumor with GSL alpha-GAL.

Age equal or over 18 years old.

ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group ) performance of less than 2. (International Normalized Ratio) INR less than 1.5 and a (Partial Thromboplastin Time) PTT no greater than normal limits within 1 week prior to intra-tumoral injection (For patients who requires invasive procedure for intra-tumoral injection).